Search found 130 matches

by MJCube
19 Nov 2016, 15:30
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Best notation for 'out of tune' natural harmonics?
Replies: 4
Views: 5802

Re: Best notation for 'out of tune' natural harmonics?

My friend Toby Twining wrote a cello piece called 9:11 Blues (2002) that uses the same very high natural harmonics. But he writes in extended J.I. throughout, using Ben Johnston’s notation. If your piece otherwise assumes E.T., you’ll have to just choose a notation system for the just intervals. Hav...
by MJCube
16 Nov 2016, 15:55
Forum: Manual Notation
Topic: Let's talk Manuscript Paper, Pens and other copying materials
Replies: 24
Views: 85875

Re: Let's talk Manuscript Paper

I, for one, have gone paperless. It’s been 20 years since I last used paper to compose or arrange. I have gotten used to the software tools, and now I no longer even have a working printer. I make PDFs, read them on my iPad, and let others do the printing they need.
by MJCube
15 Nov 2016, 15:05
Forum: Problems and Solutions (Help)
Topic: Choral divided writing
Replies: 12
Views: 16747

Re: Choral divided writing

for short score writing, the parts should have individual stems. I disagree. Clutter is an important enemy of clarity in scores. I have copied choral pieces of a huge variety of textures over the years, and I agree with Gould on sharing stems, whether SA/TB closed score or separate staves with divi...
by MJCube
13 Nov 2016, 22:27
Forum: Digital Notation Tools
Topic: Software recognition, by eye
Replies: 48
Views: 56881

Re: Software recognition, by eye

Wish I could’ve seen this earlier and shown off how I recognized that the music font is clearly Maestro, and the curly braces on the Harp are definitely Finale. You guys are great.
by MJCube
13 Nov 2016, 22:22
Forum: Digital Notation Tools
Topic: Abjad 2.19 released
Replies: 3
Views: 7127

Re: Abjad 2.19 released

When I first saw this last month I soon dismissed it as not very interesting to me because of the linear rhythmic spacing in the first examples of the documentation. But now that odod leaves a comment and I look at it again, I notice a copying technique I have not seen before: empty bars shown as ba...
by MJCube
13 Nov 2016, 22:06
Forum: Digital Notation Tools
Topic: There is plenty of room to improve Finale - kerning
Replies: 17
Views: 21102

Re: There is plenty of room to improve Finale - kerning

Beam angle is what I want to talk about with this example. An earlier version of Sibelius drew cross-staff beams at angles which were sometimes good and often not. For Sib 4 (as I recall) they revamped their beam algorithm, and since then Sib just throws up its hands and draws them all horizontal, w...
by MJCube
11 Nov 2016, 14:05
Forum: Problems and Solutions (Help)
Topic: Choral divided writing
Replies: 12
Views: 16747

Re: Choral divided writing

I agree about sharing stems when the rhythm is the same.

OCTO, another thing I notice about the first example: The syllables are aligned with the main notes, but it would be helpful to back them up to the position of the first grace notes. That is where they must be sung, after all.
by MJCube
09 Nov 2016, 22:34
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Composers vs Engravers: Stems and Slurs part 1
Replies: 21
Views: 22366

Re: Composers vs Engravers: stem direction 3

Etude op. 10 no. 1 I love this MS example, which I first saw (recopied) in a column by Douglas Hofstadter. Notice how the whole notes in the LH are all centered in the bars! Of course no editor would copy it that way because it is non-standard and a bit harder to read, but I think it’s a very infor...
by MJCube
07 Nov 2016, 20:29
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Composers vs Engravers: Stems and Slurs part 1
Replies: 21
Views: 22366

Re: Composers vs Engravers: stem direction 3

Fascinating, John. At first look it doesn’t seem to make sense to begin a slur on a staccato note. But then I see the slur points to the melody note, the lower octave! Then I could understand that the top octave can be short while the bottom is legato. I suppose to make this really clear one would h...
by MJCube
03 Nov 2016, 01:18
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Proofreading Questions
Replies: 13
Views: 12108

Re: Proofreading Questions

Just today I am finalizing a set of parts for small orchestra of a 24-movement oratorio, 2 hours in length. I have managed to get through the entire project, including Piano/Vocal score, without any paper. But I have made use of my iPad for reviewing and proofing away from my desk, and as a second s...